Right after my wise old grandmother (MWOG) adopted me, she detected an interest in all things Mother and Father Nature and gave me my own little area in the yard where I could create my own little garden. I was dreaming of my secret garden, just like the book, which, by changing just a few things, could very easily have been about my childhood of neglect.

MWOG took me to the plant nursery to buy some plants for my garden, and I chose cactus and succulents, much to her chagrin I think. I guess she shouldn't have taken me during the hot Texas summer afternoon when all the cactus were blooming -- LOL. I find that along with the lack of a water bill, the immense variety of colors in the plants themselves, as well as flowers that can rival any orchid or rose, keeps my interest year round.

My addiction to cactus and succulents remains to this day.

San Diego has a 2½-acre cactus garden in Balboa Park with over 1,300 plants. If you'd like to visit the Desert Garden when you come to the 2009 NAR Convention here in San Diego in November, from the San Diego Convention Center downtown, simply take Park Boulevard (borders Petco Park and is at the south side of the Convention Center) north. As you go away from the Convention Center, here are some of the streets and landmarks you will pass going north

• Petco Park
• Market Street
• Broadway
• San Diego High School on your right -- At this point you are in Balboa Park. Wouldn't it be nice to go to a high school located in a park?
• Interstate 5 overpasses
• Naval Hospital on the right and many musuem buildings on the left
• Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden on the right -- you can't miss it. The roses bloom 365 days a year.
• You'll see signs for the main entrance to the San Diego Zoo. The Desert Garden is on the right. If you get there around 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning, you can probably find street parking right by the Desert Garden. Park, get out and walk around, and enjoy the cactus and succulents, many of which have been growing here since

Here is a great map to the Desert Garden.

While you're anticipating coming to San Diego enjoy my slide show of cactus and succulents from my own secret gardens.

If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, click here to watch it at slide.com.

Twenty most recent posts

1. It's Zoey the Cool Cat's birthday! She's three today!
2. You expect me to eat that?
3. Did you see those funny-looking Realtors?
4. I wonder how deep it is over there
5. Yeah. I did it. So?
6. Who? Me?
7. What's all the ruckus over there?
8. I'm not as slow as I look
9. Like my shoes?
10. I have my own source of sunshine
11. I saw it first
12. Another use for your Range Rover
13. My finest points number yet
14. San Diego home inspection FAQs: Will you do repairs for me?
15. Do you love your mother-in-law?
16. Three baby white pelicans at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
17. Look at this nice even number that I just hit
18. Memories at ActiveRain - Dear Diary: What a day it's been....
19. Feed the giraffes at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
20. It's okay if you don't have any duckies in your row